Friday, February 23, 2007

2007 Oscar Predictions

Another year, another set of Oscar predictions. This year's bunch of nominees is harder to call this year, but I will try my best.

Oh, before I make my predictions, I want to make a comment about the fact that Dreamgirls is the top nominee, but it not nominated for Best Picture. Simply put, Dreamgirls is the De Facto leader, due to the fact that three of the nominations are for one category. Category-wise Babel is the true leader.

Now onto the predictions....

Best Motion Picture of the YearNominees:BabelThe DepartedLetters from Iwo JimaLittle Miss SunshineThe Queen

Prediction: The DepartedAlternates: Babel, Little Miss Sunshine

Reason: This year has probably been the hardest year for me to draw the line between "want to win" and "will win." That's why there's two alternate picks. I was surprised to here that Little Miss Sunshine is actually a top candidate to win, however I probably won't be able to see the film until sometime after the Oscars. Between The Departed and Babel, I believe that The Departed was the better film, so that's my pick to win Best Picture.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading RoleNominees:Leonardo DiCaprio for Blood DiamondRyan Gosling for Half NelsonPeter O'Tool for VenusWill Smith for The Pursuit of HappynessForest Whitaker for The Last King of Scotland

Prediction: Forest WhitakerAlternate: Leonardo DiCaprio

Reason: I say the Whitaker is all but a shoe-in to win here. If not, I would say DiCaprio.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading RoleNominees:Penelope Cruz - VolverJudi Dench - Notes on a ScandalHelen Mirren - The QueenMeryl Streep - The Devil Wears PradaKate Winslet - Little Children

Reason: Raging Bull, The Last Temptation of Christ, Goodfellas, Gangs of New York, and The Aviator. Those the the past films Scorsese has been nominated for, but didn't win. However, the signs are showing that this will be his year!

Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the ScreenNominees:BabelLetters from Iwo JimaLittle Miss SunshinePan's LabyrinthThe Queen

Prediction: Little Miss SunshineAlternate: Babel

Reasion: Based on what I've heard, Little Miss Sunshine will be the choice for this category. If not, I would say Babel shall get it.

Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or PublishedNominees:Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of KazakhstanChildren of MenThe DepartedLittle ChildrenNotes on a Scandal

Prediction: The DepartedAlternate: Children of Men

Reason: Once against, the consensus seems to be that The Departed will win here.

And those are the top categories. You can stop reading now, or continue with the other categories. Since I'm now a film student, I have a better understanding what the technical categories mean, but still you should consider most of these educated guesses.

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original ScoreNominees:BabelThe Good GermanNotes on a ScandalPan's LabyrinthThe Queen

Prediction: BabelAlternate: Pan's Labyrinth

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original SongNominees:"I Need to Wake Up" - An Inconvenient Truth"Listen" - Dreamgirls"Love You I Do" - Dreamgirls"Our Town" - Cars"Patience" - Dreamgirls

Prediction: ListenAlternate: I Need to Wake Up

Best Achievement in MakeupNominees:ApocalyptoClickPan's Labyrinth

My Prediction: Pan's LabyrinthAlternate: Apocalypto

Best Achievement in SoundNominees:ApocalyptoBlood DiamondDreamgirlsFlags of Our FathersPirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

My Prediction: Pirates of the CaribbeanAlternate: Apocalypto

Best Achievement in Sound EditingNominees:ApocalyptoBlood DiamondFlags of Our FathersLetters from Iwo JimaPirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

My Prediction: Letters from Iwo JimaAlternate: Pirates of the Caribbean

Best Achievement in Visual EffectsNominees:Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's ChestPoseidonSuperman Returns

My Prediction: Pirates of the CaribbeanAlternate: Superman Returns

Best Animated Feature Film of the YearNominees:CarsHappy FeetMonster House

My Prediction: CarsAlternate: Monster House

Best Foreign Language Film of the YearNominees:After the Wedding (Denmark)Days of Glory (Indigenes) (Algeria)The Lives of Others (Germany)Pan's Labyrinth (Mexico)Water (Canada)

My Prediction: Pan's LabyrinthAlternate: Water

Best Documentary, FeaturesNominees:Deliver Us from EvilAn Inconvenient TruthIraq in FragmentsJesus CampMy Country, My Country

My Prediction: An Inconvenient TruthAlternate: Jesus Camp

Best Documentary, Short SubjectsNominees:The Blood of Yingzhou DistrictRecycled LifeRehearsing a DreamTwo Hands

Prediction: The Blood of Yingzhou DistrictAlternate: Rehearsing a Dream

Best Short Film, AnimatedNominees:The Danish PoetLiftedThe Little MatchgirlMaestroNo Time for Nuts

Prediction: LiftedAlternate: The Danish Poet

Best Short Film, Live ActionNominees:Binta and the Great Idea (Binta Y La Gran Idea)Eramos Pocos (One Too Many)Helmer & SonThe SaviourWest Bank Story

About Sean Kelly -

Sean Patrick Kelly is a self-described über-geek, who has been an avid film lover for all his life. He graduated from York University in 2010 with an honours B.A. in Cinema and Media Studies and he likes to believe he knows what he’s talking about when he writes about film (despite occasionally going on pointless rants).